CrimeaSOS: Ukrainian human rights defenders see the threat of illegal deportation of Nariman Dzhelial and the Akhtemov brothers
20 / 04 / 2023
Representatives of Ukrainian human rights organizations condemn the illegal sentences on Crimean political prisoners Nariman Dzhelial and the Akhtemov brothers and see the threat of their deportation. This is stated in the appeal published today.
“According to available information, illegally imprisoned Crimean political prisoners Nariman Dzhelial, Asan Akhtemov and Aziz Akhtemov may be deported to russia. This is a continuation of the criminal policy of the russian federation of ousting the Crimean Tatars from the peninsula and persecuting them, which must stop immediately”, — says Oleksii Tilnenko, head of the Board of CrimeaSOS.
That is why Ukrainian human rights defenders demand that the representatives of the russian authorities refrain from illegal deportation to the russian federation and immediately release Ukrainian citizens Nariman Dzhelialov, Asan Akhtemov and Aziz Akhtemov, as well as release other illegally deprived Ukrainian citizens detained for political reasons by the occupying administrations in Crimea.
On September 21, 2022, the so-called “supreme court of Crimea” announced the sentence to the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Dzhelial, citizen journalist Asan Akhtemov and his cousin Aziz Akhtemov. They are accused of allegedly blowing up a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalne near Simferopol, smuggling and storing explosives.
The total term of imprisonment for the accused is 45 years. In addition, the amount of the fine for the three is RUB 1 million 700 thousand.
The prisoners are currently in the Simferopol pre-trial detention centre. However, russia regularly deports victims of politically motivated persecution in Crimea to its territory. This makes any contact with their families and lawyers much more difficult.